1966 Volkswagen Beetle

Description

Beetle guys, if you're going to modify your early VW, this is how you do it right. This 1966 Beetle looks right, sits right, has an awesome interior, and with a relatively burly engine, is a hoot to drive. Love for the original Beetle has never gone away, but cars like this make everyone stop in their tracks like they've just seen a howling red Ferrari.

To most folks, a Beetle is a Beetle, right? But when you start looking at true enthusiasts, you find that there's a definite line drawn at about 1967 and values today reflect that divide. Older cars like this are red hot collectables and they really do make fine-looking customs, too. This one wears a simply wonderful shade of pastel green that's low-key and sophisticated on the playful Beetle shape, but also emphasizes the car's custom look in a very big way. It's not chopped, channeled, or altered in anyway, but this little car just grabs your attention and won't let go. Maybe it's the beautifully bulbous headlights, the almost delicate bumpers, and the tiny marker lamps on the front and rear fenders. The stance, of course, helps with that whole custom theme, and the bodywork was done by pros who really knew their stuff, so it'll stand up to even close scrutiny at a car show.

The interior has the same kind of look, vintage, kind of stock, but with a custom touch. The seats immediately jump out at you with their two-tone upholstery that's playfully called "latte cream." It fits and with the light green bodywork, the car looks simply spectacular. The seats are SCAT units that look properly vintage and the rear bench was finished to match. Stock-style door panels use the same materials for a consistent look, and sisal carpets add texture. Original VWs had minimal instrumentation, but during the makeover, this Beetle received a billet gauge panel full of VDO instruments that somehow look like they were born there. There's also an AM/FM/CD stereo in the center of the dash, and the spare gauges under the dash monitor the Air Ride suspension that's a critical part of this car's look and feel. A JSC shifter manages the stock 4-speed and makes a notable difference (anything is an improvement over the vague original), and the front trunk area is exceptionally well finished with a full-sized spare.

A 1600 cc AE engine powers this Beetle, and while it isn't muscle car powerful, it's a blast to drive and feels nimble and quick on the street. Lots of brightwork makes the rear engine compartment look good, and bulletproof reliability means that it'll run this well practically forever. A throaty exhaust system gives it that traditional Beetle whistle with an edge, and as long as you're looking around under there, take a moment to note just how clean the pans are. The suspension is augmented with coil-overs and that aforementioned Air Ride setup, so the ride height is adjustable and the attitude is low. And with those flashy chrome EMPI wheels and staggered 135R15 front and 165/80/15 rear tires, it almost has a hot-rod feel.

A very cool little VW done to a very high level using the best parts. They don't get much better than this, and it'll delight both traditional VW fans and customizers alike. Call today!